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Paid research studies
Paid research studies let you complete surveys or experiments for monetary rewards. The pay and availability of suitable studies can vary, so treat this as occasional extra income rather than a dependable wage.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- You answer questions or do small research tasks for money.
- Studies may not be available when you want them.
- Read the rules before you start each study.
- Only choose studies you can finish carefully.
- Keep a note of payments and check your tax rules.
Who it suits
Suits adults who can give careful answers, follow study instructions and wait for suitable opportunities; it is not a reliable option if you need regular income.
Researchers pay people to answer questions or complete tasks that help with their research. Rewards and suitable opportunities vary, so this is occasional extra income, not a dependable wage.
Step by step
- Join as a participant, not as a researcher. You are answering studies run by researchers, not setting up a study yourself. Do not pay to create a study budget; that is not part of joining as a participant. About 5 minutes.
- Check that you meet the age requirement. Prolific requires participants to be at least 18 to register and take part Prolific Researcher Help. Check the platform's current requirements before signing up. About 5 minutes.
- Create your account and fill in your profile honestly. Complete the participant profile with accurate information. Researchers use profile answers to find participants who meet their study criteria Prolific Researcher Help. About 20-40 minutes.
- Check study details before accepting. Look for the task, expected time, eligibility rules and any access requirements. Only accept a study if you can meet its instructions and complete it carefully. About 2-5 minutes per study.
- Set aside enough time to finish without rushing. Choose a time when you are less likely to be interrupted. Follow the study instructions and answer consistently; do not start if you cannot give it the attention it needs. About Use the study's stated time, plus a few minutes to get settled.
- Finish the study and submit its completion code. Follow the researcher’s instructions for completing the task. If a completion code is provided, enter it as instructed when you submit Prolific Researcher Help. About As stated by the study.
- Wait for the researcher to review your submission. A researcher reviews your submission. Once it is approved, payment is made automatically through Prolific Prolific Researcher Help. About Varies; allow time for review.
- Record payments and check your local tax guidance. Keep a simple list of payments and dates. Tax treatment depends on where you live and how the income is classified; check the relevant guidance if payments become regular or substantial. About 5 minutes each time you are paid.
Your first 15 minutes
Create a participant account, fill in your profile accurately and check the available studies each day for one that fits your interests and available time.
The money
You do not set the study reward: the researcher sets it, and you decide whether the task and time suit you. Prolific sets a minimum permitted reward rate of £6 per hour and recommends at least £9 per hour, but these are study pay rates, not a promise of income or available studies <a href="https://researcher-help.prolific.com/en/articles/445230-prolific-s-payment-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Prolific Researcher Help</a>.
Example only: if you complete one available study paying £9 and spend £1 on related costs, £9 income − £1 costs = £8 before any tax. In euros, if a study pays €12 and related costs are €1, €12 − €1 = €11 before any tax. These figures are examples, not expected earnings or a promise that studies will be available.
The rules
There’s no general participant licence or business-registration requirement identified for taking part in paid studies. You still need to meet the platform’s and study’s eligibility rules. You may also have tax duties, depending on your circumstances. Check with the platform before agreeing to unusual requests.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Tax depends on classification. If HMRC treats your payments as trading income, the first £1,000 a year is covered by the trading allowance. If your income is above that, tell HMRC GOV.UK. The allowance is based on gross income before expenses Tax Help for Hustles.
- Self Assessment deadline. If you need to register for Self Assessment, do so by 5 October after the end of the tax year GOV.UK. If you’re unsure whether your study payments count as trading income, check with HMRC.
- Licence or registration. There’s no specific licence or business registration identified for taking part in studies. If a study involves a regulated activity or asks you for unusual information, check with the platform or relevant regulator before agreeing.
Ireland
- Check tax treatment. Keep records of your payments. Ask Revenue or a tax adviser how your particular study income should be treated. Paid research participation isn’t specifically classified in the guidance here.
- Tax return forms. If you’re a PAYE worker, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those limits, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount Revenue.
- Licence or registration. There’s no specific licence or business registration identified for taking part in studies. If a study involves a regulated activity or asks you for unusual information, check with the platform or relevant regulator before agreeing.
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Treating study pay rates as guaranteed income or expecting suitable studies to appear regularly.
- Starting a study without checking its eligibility, format, time or instructions.
- Rushing answers or accepting a task when you cannot finish it carefully.
- Assuming every payment has the same tax treatment or is automatically covered by an allowance.
- Entering inaccurate profile details or ignoring the study's completion instructions.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.